Lore: The Sect of Strato (ACE OF BEASTS)

"You pledge your life to your swords and nothing else."
- The Divine Creed of Strato

The gladiator-centric cult of Strato, the god of sex and war, is known all over the world of Spathi. In a land where the gods are very real, none have a more direct influence on man than the Divine Warrior himself. 

STRATO

Said to be tall, intimidating, quite muscular, and handsome in mortal form, Strato was a great conquerer who was as legendary on the battlefield as the bedroom. Legend says that the gods rewarded him for his conquests by granting him ascension into their pantheon, with Strato becoming the god of both swords which men wield.

CULTISTS AND FOLLOWERS

Those who follow Strato hope to become fine warriors, devoting their lives to his cause - to inflict divine violence in his name, to experience and give sexual ecstasy, to become strong and skilled in swordsmanship, or to conquer others using his methods. 

Even beyond the Sect, the influence of this cult is felt in nearly everything in Spathi. Warriors wear skin-tight black clothes around their neck, arms, or legs to imitate the distinctive black and white markings of Strato (given to each member at 20, and which spreads over their body and transforms them visually into a version of their god), even if they don't know why it is in fashion for them to do so. Casual erotic acts and kink is acceptable to display publicly (for the most part). 

NOTABLE INHABITANTS OF THE SECT OF STRATO

XERXES PHOENIX

Strato's chosen vessel who was given to the Sect just after he was born, Xerxes grew up to become a near-perfect ideal of the cult's values. Ravi is blamed by the High Priests for Xerxes' gentle nature, and is punished for it (and for costing them their vessel, since he helped him escape). Xerxes' gentle disposition is the least concerning aspect of him as far as Strato is concerned, because after he enters him in both body and mind, Xerxes is to become a physical vessel for Strato, and his mind is intended to be wiped away for their god to take over his body.

RAVI SIRRUSH

Ravi was born into the Sect and was intended to stay there to fulfill a certain role set upon him. This, of course, was not what he wanted to become, and so he rebelled at any chance he got. His many scars are proof of his disobedience. The one on his face was given to him as a threat against his life for refusing to take part in a sexual act with one of the High Priests. He was given the garden area of the Sect for being an accomplished swordsman who taught many of their would-be gladiators all that they know, but his sexual reluctance (with anyone but Xerxes) put him on bad terms with many there.

STELERUS

The black and gold centaur, and the Sect's other choice for Strato reincarnated, except that Strato is adamant about his vessel being human. A Lymorid who lives for the thrill of battle and always takes his pleasurable prize after every fight - in return he gives them a large, girthy prize that even those who lose are happy to be filled by. 

ORAIA

With bright-red-dyed hair and facial markings from an early age, Oraia is overly eager to please his god. When Xerxes was named Strato's vessel, he instantly hated him, taking to attacking Xerxes any opportunity he had. His relatively thin and short stature meant that he wasn't the strongest warrior in the Sect, but his aggressive demeanor meant that he could at least take solace in sucker-punching and punishing Xerxes, Ravi, and other members he deems 'weak' at any opportunity he got.

MONSTER KNIGHTS

Summoned beast-men who serve the High Priests and abscond with people with certain favorable traits to convert them to the Sect's beliefs and sometimes into gladiators. In Volume 2, they try to recruit Osric for his great swordsmanship, but in finding him they find Xerxes, their escaped vessel. They report this back to the High Priests, who are then instructed by Strato to stay on his trail and bring him back with Ravi, who they presume will find him soon (he does in Volume 3).

HIGH PRIEST ATENEK (not pictured yet)

A muscular man who is the first priest touched by Strato's divine influence - he needs no mask, for his face is already the spitting image of their god. The 'main' high priest of the central Sect of Strato temple, he was chosen to lead the members of the Sect in their rituals. His haunting, booming voice commands, and yet it's sincere and true to his belief that everything they work towards is sincerely good for everyone in the cult. His appearance is basically what all the warriors there will become when their markings cover their bodies, and because of his status as a near-living embodiment of their deity, he is greatly admired and respected.

HIGH PRIEST ONOMET (not pictured yet)

A heavy-set man who is the second priest touched by Strato's divine influence - the wearer of the Lion's mask. He was chosen to lead the members of the Sect with his mastery of combat and gladiatorial techniques. Onomet has a short temper, and is mostly only seen personally delivering 'justice' to prisoners (escaped gladiators, ex-cultists, etc) they acquire to make an example out of them for the Sect's viewing.

HIGH PRIEST ZENOK

A tall, thin man who is the third priest touched by Strato's divine influence - the wearer of the Jackal's mask. He rose to power about 20 years ago, and maintains a thread on every goings on within the temple with which he can blackmail with. Skilled in shape-shifting thanks to the divine amrit which also gave Ravi his similar powers, and is masterful in his use of rope bondage. His calculating cruelness is barely reigned behind condescending laughter, a silver tongue, and gilded words; but Ravi has known what actual cruelty he is more than happy to be capable of.

LAST NOTES

Most people in Spathi think that the Sect as a place where warriors go to train for the thrill of battle, sex, and glory - and that is true in a way, for the many who voluntarily live and train there. Osric and Ramzi even react with congratulations for Xerxes once they learn from Ravi that they were raised there.

Ravi and Xerxes believe, in their involuntary stay there, that this place is only glorious to the fanatical.

(more details are in Volume 1 and Volume 3!)